New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-20
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.
THE STORY OF A NIHILIST.

kh0ugh Sho De, nevertneieSS cOncealS pcncath her
gorgeous robes and imperial grandeur an awful
banccr that poisons the happiness nay even threat
kns the very existence Of tie mighty empire In
this vast and magnificent country heroic sclf-de-
kotiOn Is closely allied TO cowardly assassination
Qhe friend we trust may tomorrow be the muir
ncrer destined 10 slay. The hand that clasps
Gours in kindly pressure may ere long place the
cruel dynamite that will not only destroy the
kAemics of the nation. but may nict infinite SUI
fering, IL not death, on hundreds Of innocent hui
man beings.
To-day the savage cry for blood hceds not that
multitudes must be sacrificed to insure the de-
struction of one. doomed to die by the decree OF
secret and irresponsible tribunal. No man now
dare trust his fellow. And alas for The country
where such things can be. women as well as men
are but too often the perpetrators OF coldblooded
and dastardly murders.
In the following narrative the names OF per-
sons and places have been changed and the minor
circumstances fictitious but the principal IN
ridents are, I believe, true The terrible detaiIs
were related to me In Russia by relative Oh Ihe
unhappy woman / call Countess Nariscka
: Long residence with an uncle, who for many
wears was British Minister at one of the small
European courts, that of c. Il purposely avoid
giving the name) led to my acquaintance with nu-
merous members Of the principal families of Eu
rope One of my most intimate friends was a
Countess Nadine Fcdorovna Nariscka, young
Russian widow, rich handsome, brilliant In con
Sersation and accomplishments but as peculiar
and eccentric as she was handsome and accom-
plished.
suppose the sympathy mutually felt was
produced by the complete contrast between us {;
! fair, quiet, and. as Nadine said, woiuiiy
English in all my ways and ideas. My lrehu'
on the contrary, was fiery, impetuous In speech
and action. and changeabe as the wind. Her
moods various her tOilettcs. Her very
beauty was eccentric. Not feature was regular
nor indeed good, but the too great pallor OF the
creamy skin seemed to enhance the dusky mag
pifcence Of the masses of dark hair colled around
her head, and when some eager thought, some
cager word, sent tho impetuous blood courslns
through her veins, the deepset eyes glowed with
light that electric in It's effect on those gazing
into their sombre depths But when annoyed Oh
bored-a not infrequent occurrence-then the mo-
bile face expressed such scornful and mocklns
contempt that all beauty in 1t seemed marred'
md a slight cast outward of one OF the eyes De
came distinctly visible, producing most unpieas-
ant, even sinister effect. But loved her We'll
and even pitied her. for during her dark moods re-
ligiop became TO her very torture. Az such
times her mind seemed agonized by BELIEF In every
miserable superstition. She would infict upon hel
self the severest pcnances. the longesb ana nios'
distressing fasts prescribed by the Greek Church
"A week later and she would profess absolute
scepticism. Then. intense as was her devotion to
the Russian Imperial family. almost siaVlsh IN
deed, she was almost Nihilst In the POLITICAL
opinions she expressed. The violence OF her ian
cruel alarm on her account. L expostulated' pu'
in vain She laughed at my fears. and only soue nj
occasion to brighten me still more. In truth snt
was a contradiction. both in Thought ana action
However her Wild almost savage beauty mel
tender even carcssing words. won all hearts. oh'
reigned in our little world a queen Even th'
women liked her. AS for the men, they were mel
vericst slaves. TIE brightness Of her words, the
softness of the anger expressed In her eyes, were
lures no man could resist but apparently SHE
laughed at all, and professed TO despise them all
A few weeks before the close OF her stay al
C, man arrived who. though showing hel
almost exaggerated devotion, was-I am convinced
absolutely unnfuenced by her; while she, or
her side though she treated him with ever
greater rudeness and brusqueric than Others, wa
in some strange fashion subservient to him ano
showed q certain Difference to his wishes.
He was countryman Of hers-a Russian. q
Count Xavier Peretekof-tall. handsome smooth
faced smooth-tongued. and sin.ularly accomplished
Though cminently courtly in manner there wa
ever something in his fatterinc speeches and wins
pered words that inspired roe with deep m1strust
was nearly alone in this opinion. however Tor M
had wonderful success In our little society h'hrN
every one from the Court downward. pronounclnt
him to be one of the most delightful visitors tina
had ever arrived at c.. His stay however
was not long He came, he saw. and' suppose
conquered Then he went. ond few days ate
lis departure Countess Nariscka left also: Nadih
was very fearful and sorrowfu when WISHING M
goodbye.
"You will FORGET me- Lima" she said, Will
real feeling in her voice. "vour life Is happl
one. You belong to a good country. TO good peo
pie. You have q good heart. n good head WILLS
Il here she sighed deeply. but would tell me III
more. -
.sNo. no. cried: l"yours is the happy life
Young. handsome rich with all the world at you
feet. you can make of your life what you choose
Your future is in your own hands you are Ire
10 do as you like"
yVith
ness "free How little know the reahtle
of Russian life Who AMONGST us is free In
veriest slave is not more bound Here SIN
pa,sed. cast fuItiye glance around and for som
seconds was silent.
i sB,t Lima" she continued. SHOULD you eve
come to Russia. here arc my directions both II
Moscow and in tho country. L give you DOth
though il is barely possible you should ever hn'
yourself near so remote. 50 ioriorn a spoO III vi
poorest and most thin'v inhabited part Of on
wild country But my lands are there. my peopl
are there, and / must be there myself soon Fare
we'll dear sweet Lima Do not forget your Ma
dine" So my friend and parted and as year
rolled on, our severance became complete, an
friendship was Dut hame' remenioI"Ho
only of the past.
These passing years brourht many sad change
To me NV dear uncle died. and with him ende
nv happy life at c.. Then sorrows came fas
and heavily. bringing bad health in Their tran
4 Thus it is that now in nv declining years am
constant wanderer ever seeking health in chang
of place and scene 1t 50 happened that havin
passed several months at Athens and on The Bos
phorus | accompanied some Russian friends L
Yalta a charming little town the Black Sea
had intended going on with them to Moscow an
St. Petersburg, but few days before their dc
partuIe l seized with attack of fever =
severe that it not ONLY prevented my travellin
with them, but it would make it imprudent I
move for at least ten days fortnight. Thi
DELAY was vexatious, as / had hoped to arrive i
Moscow in time for certain grand ceremonies
had bethought me also of nv old friend Counties
Nari,eka 1t was now quite fifteen years sine
we had been together at c. and nearly ten sine
we had corresponded.
had learnt that she was still living. very ric
.ol ,,ou,orf,,l nv all accounts Nv friends, VIII